Ice Box expands

Demands show need for ice time

Demands show need for ice time

February 12, 2006|JACOB SANDOCK Tribune Staff Writer

Mike Klute tells the story as well as anyone. Klute, general manager of the Ice Box in South Bend, recounted the tale of how the facility came into existence, as if it's been stamped into memory. "The older section of this building actually used to be a foundry, it was the original Oliver Plow," said Klute. "Steel Warehouse and the Lerman family had bought the building, and one day -- I'm told it was sometime in the early 1970s -- somebody was standing up in the balcony of the old building and said to (Steel Warehouse President) Dave Lerman, 'My god, Dave, an ice rink would fit down there.'" The rest is history. The Ice Box has since become somewhat of a local mecca for hockey fans and players of all ages. The building, operated by the non-profit organization, South Bend Youth Hockey, houses the Irish Youth Hockey League, the Michiana High School Hockey League, various leagues for players of all ages and skill levels and a figure skating club which, according to Klute, is picking up steam. There is so much going on these days at the Ice Box that another expansion is in the works. The proposed expansion would add a third rink and would make the Ice Box the only three-sheet facility in the state of Indiana. "All of our ice slots are full," said Klute. "We just don't have the space right now to fit the needs that we have." For instance, the figure skating club has swelled, in two years, from the original six members to nearly 200 members. "That's pretty rapid growth," said Klute of the club. "A big reason for the expansion plan is that our figure skating program would like to see ice time every night." Klute added that the facility would like to become more of a draw for the community at large. "We're also looking to do this expansion in an effort to have a rink that the public will have more opportunity to use," said Klute. Currently, the Ice Box only has open skate hours on Saturday and Sunday. Klute, and the board of directors which operate the facility, would like to see open skate hours for the public on every night of the week. "We don't want to compete with or be a problem for our city parks," Klute added. "We want to work in unison with them, so we would probably adjust our hours later so that we don't take away from them by any means." But it is fairly clear that an ice facility with two rinks and, most importantly, a roof, is a pretty powerful draw for those who are inclined to be on the ice. "The fortunate thing is that we have a roof," said Klute. "Regardless of how mild a winter God blesses us with, it's always cold in here. We hope. If it's not, I'm in trouble." Last Saturday it was plenty cold and the place was buzzing with activity. The Michiana High School Hockey League playoffs were held all day in the original full-sized rink (Lerman Arena) and the women's over-30 league played earlier in the day on Rink 2. Later that evening was an open skate on Rink 2. The parking lot was full, kids and players of all ages were scurrying through the lobby, it was a veritable house of hockey hoopla. One of the more interesting aspects at the Ice Box is the growing interest in hockey for women. The facility hosts two teams that are members of the Women's Central Hockey League (WCHL), based in Chicago. "It's beyond fun," said Michael Jaskiewicz, a right wing for the Michiana Sting and a nursing student at Valparaiso University. "There's a lot of camaraderie. I played some soccer, but (hockey) is the best sport." Jaskiewicz, whose husband and son are both hockey players, took to the sport fairly quickly. She does, however, take a fair amount of good-natured ribbing for lining her hockey stick with pink tape. Tracy DePoy, also a member of the Sting, said that the opportunity to play hockey, after years of watching it as a fan, has been somewhat special. She now is recognized as a player when she comes to the Ice Box, not just another hockey mom or spectator. "It's awesome," she said. "My first time out on the ice I spent a lot of time on my butt. But you just keep getting up. I have a long way to go, I'd like to skate faster and handle the puck better." Well, if DePoy wants to improve her hockey skills, she's definitely in the right place.